Undergraduate Research Abroad

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1 A EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH EXPERIENCE with Undergraduate Research Abroad THROUGH the EuroScholars Program

2 About EuroScholars EuroScholars is a unique, research-intensive study abroad program designed for talented and advanced undergraduate students. The program combines a study abroad experience with the opportunity to join a research team and participate in an ongoing investigation at an internationally renowned European research university. Students in this program will: Choose an academic research project from a variety of fields within the participating institutions Gain hands-on research experience at one of Europe s top institutions, under the direct supervision of professors and other academic staff Collaborate and share their experiences with other like-minded students What the Scholars are Saying... Percentage of respondents who either Strongly Agree or Agree: Document their research in a paper of publishable quality Develop professionally as they explore research as a long-term career option Advance their intercultural and scholarly communication skills 100% The EuroScholars program was worth my time, money, and energy. 85% Participating in the EuroScholars program helped me fine tune my career/graduate school goals. 93% Participating in EuroScholars was one of the most important experiences I had as an undergraduate student. 100% 97% 97% EuroScholars exposed me to experiences and opportunities I wouldn t have found on my home campus. I returned from my EuroScholars experience with a stronger sense of what it means to be engaged in research as a full-time endeavor. I would recommend the EuroScholars program to other undergraduate students interested in research. EuroScholars exposed me to academic research and even more importantly reshaped my world view. I wouldn t be here today without the experiences and friendships I gained in Munich. S. LANDRETH LUDWIG MAXIMILIAN UNIVERSITY I am currently a PhD student in the Cell and Molecular Biology program at the University of Pennsylvania. When applying for graduate schools, my research abroad was always among the top talking points. M. KRAMER UNIVERSITY OF GENEVA

3 Participating Institutions The participating institutions are research-intensive universities, all internationally recognized for their outstanding research in numerous fields. All of the participating institutions are ranked in the top two percent of the 4,000 universities in all of Europe. University of Leuven, Belgium kuleuven.be University of Helsinki, Finland helsinki.fi/university Utrecht University, the Netherlands uu.nl Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany lmu.de Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden ki.se/en/startpage Ruprecht Karls Universität, Heidelberg, Germany uni-heidelberg.de University of Geneva, Switzerland unige.ch Leiden University, the Netherlands leiden.edu University of Zurich, Switzerland uzh.ch

4 Academic Structure and Project Options The EuroScholars academic structure is customizable per student, based on their qualifying coursework and experience. Each student s semester will be transcripted as a full-time semester workload. A maximum of 30 ECTS credits are included in the program, with a minimum of 18 ECTS devoted to research. Once accepted to a project, a student will complete the EuroScholars Learning Agreement to outline their course configuration for the semester. The program is comprised of: The research project A Language and Culture course, to enhance the student s experience outside of the lab Additional Course Options (to be determined by the student, their U.S. university advisors and host university faculty): An in-depth Methods and Literature Review on the chosen research topic, designed to enrich the student s appreciation and understanding of the subject An elective course in the field of research Please note that this is not possible at all universities or in all academic areas as it depends on availability of courses taught in English at the host institution, or the proficiency of the student in the local language. Project Examples by EuroScholars Alumni Zurich, Switzerland Molecular & Cellular Mechanisms Regulating Sleep and Biological Clocks Heidelberg, Germany Analysis of Mass Spectrometry Data Munich, Germany Coulomb Stress Modeling & Earthquake Hazards in New Zealand Utrecht, Netherlands Cardiac Regeneration: Ischemic Heart Disease Leiden, Netherlands Cognitive Neuroscience Helsinki, Finland Evolutionary Genetics of Wild Vertebrate Populations Karolinska, Sweden Genetic Components of Drug Metabolism & Adverse Drug Effects Leuven, Belgium Projects in Parenting & Special Education Geneva, Switzerland Ethnic Power Relations & Conflict in Fragile States A full list of projects is provided on the EuroScholars website at euroscholars.eu.

5 Program Cost, What s Included and Eligibility SPRING/FALL 2016: 9975 /$13,250 per semester please note: Fees are paid in USD. The program includes: Admissions advising and pre-departure support Tuition at the host university Housing in an approved university facility. Please note an additional housing security deposit may be required from student. An orientation at the host campus and on-site support throughout the semester Research project supervision International medical insurance. All students will be automatically enrolled by ISA. A description of coverage is available on the ISA website. Please note that some countries will require students to purchase additional coverage for visa purposes. The Mid-Stay Program. During the semester a Mid-Stay Program will be organized for all EuroScholars students at one of the host institutions. All travel and lodging expenses are included in the EuroScholars program fee. The Mid-Stay program will consist of an academic portion, in which students will present on their research findings up to that point of the semester, as well as social activities around the host city. Eligibility: EuroScholars is looking for independent, mature, and motivated undergraduate students with a strong interest in an academic and/or research career. A minimum GPA of 3.4 is required. Research experience is not required; however, natural science students should have ample academic experience in a laboratory setting. Students must obtain approval by both the host and home university.

6 How to Apply Step 1: Find a Project Search the Research Project Database found on euroscholars.eu to view all available research project options. Identify first and second choice projects of interest. Step 2: Contact ISA and your U.S. University ISA (International Studies Abroad) is the North American partner of the EuroScholars program and will guide you through the admissions process. Please contact our office to set up a phone call to discuss program and application nuances once you have established research projects of interest. Students should also work closely with their U.S. university to establish approval of the EuroScholars program and the feasibility of credit transfer. Step 3: Apply An online application is available through the ISA website at studiesabroad.com/apply. A $200 nonrefundable deposit is required in order to submit this application, so please be confident about your intents to move forward with the program by the time you reach this step. Your deposit will be refunded if your application is rejected. After completing the online application, you will be required to submit the following supporting documents via the ISA Student Portal: Cover Letter Academic Resume Two Academic Letters of Recommendation Project Identification & Personal Statements (prompts provided) ISA Application Supplement Official Transcripts Step 4: Host University Application Review & Status Notification Upon receipt of your complete application, ISA will provide it to the host institution for your first-choice project for their review. The host institution will then contact you regarding your acceptance status within approximately 2-3 weeks. In most cases, a call with the research project supervisor will be arranged to discuss a student s application in greater depth before a final decision is made. Following a student s acceptance, additional paperwork and payment will need to be submitted to ISA by the final forms and payment due date. The Learning Agreement must be completed and signed by the student, their home university, and their host institution in order for final program approval to be granted. Application Deadlines Fall Semester / Academic Year April 1 Spring Semester October 1

7 EuroScholars Awards The EuroScholars Consortium awards up to five 2000 scholarships per semester to deserving applicants. In order to be considered for an award, students must have their full EuroScholars program application and EuroScholars scholarship application submitted to ISA by the application deadline. Students will be able to submit their scholarship application materials to the ISA Student Portal along with their application materials. Scholarship Application Requirements: Award Letter Students must submit an award letter from their home institution s financial aid office. The award letter must include information on any funding the student is already receiving towards their program cost. Financial need will be a strong factor in determining the awards, but students will not be discounted if they receive no aid. Statement of Impact Students must submit a statement in which they discuss how this award will contribute to their ability to participate in EuroScholars. Any special circumstances, challenges, or other considerations applicants wish to convey should be included. Applicants may also choose to discuss their motivation for applying for a EuroScholars placement. This narrative must not exceed 400 words. Academic References Students faculty references from the EuroScholars application will be submitted with the scholarship materials and taken into consideration during the review process.

8 Contact Us European Office at Leiden University Gravensteen, Pieterskerkhof 6 PO Box 9500, 2300 RA - Leiden, the Netherlands ISA / EuroScholars 1112 W. Ben White Blvd. Austin, TX USA euroscholars.eu info@euroscholars.eu 1 (512) (USA)